Carnival in Italy, colorful celebrations between fun and tradition

It’s Carnival in Italy, and all regions are busy preparing and having fun according to tradition. I’ve been celebrating carnival in Sardinia since I was a child, for me it was a sacrosanct annual event to be spent out from morning to late night with friends. No other possible option, having fun and getting dressed up with the most unlikely masquerade. Then I grew up, and while carnival hasn’t lost its charm to me, I started looking at it in a whole different way.

Where is the best Carnival in Italy?

Among the most popular Carnival celebrations in Italy are the ones in Sardinia, my hometown, where carnival is always a crucial gathering. Ancestral thousand-year-old rituals such as the one of Mamoiada’s Mamuthones, and the reckless horse tournament of Oristano’s Sartiglia are among my favorite, but also towns like Samugheo and Ottana organize great events, in case you happen in the island around this time of the year, some 40-45 days before Easter, right before Lent. (If you are in Oristano, make sure you contact either Fondazione Sa Sartiglia or the local tourism board if you need any help).

Here is a small collection of some of my favorite images from each of the carnival:

Carnival of Venice

Mask on Venice Laguna

One more floating on the Laguna

I love this photo, it gives the idea of the melancoly that Venice has, at least in my mind.

Carnival of Putignano

“Evocative of unbridled fun and colorful costumes, carnival (or carnevale in Italian) originates from ancestral rituals performed in the occasion of the arrival of the warm season to bode well for the imminent harvest. Today, all over Italy, carnival season means wild parties, allegoric carriages and funny masks, and every region proudly preserves their own traditions.

Be it a spectacular parade, an ancient ceremony or a thrilling horse tournament, here are some of the main carnivals in Italy, and depending on your passions, you can pick the type of amusement you prefer and join the fun.”

Really Magical.. these are awesome photos, a window to all these festivities in Italy. I have never been to Italy, but planning my trip now. Alas I have missed the opportunity to witness Venice Carnival this year, but I hope I get to see it next year. I will be in Venice just for a day, so took the help of an online itinerary planner so I can make the most use of my day in Venice. I will be following an itinerary by an expert http://www.triphobo.com/venice-itinerary-52551e5ce70545590c000000, So hoping for a good day. Also gone through your article on Forbes, I guess all the festivities are in March except the venice carnival. I will sure try to be there in March next year. Thanks so much

Chasing The Unexpected is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr, Amazon.de, Amazon.it, Amazon.es.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok